Ready to uncover centuries of history? Here at Addey and Stanhope School, the past whispers from every brick. This co-educational secondary school has roots stretching back to 1606. It began with John Addey, a master shipwright who made his fortune in shipbuilding. Addey left money in his will to help the poor of Deptford.
But how did this money transform into Addey and Stanhope School? In 1820, trustees felt direct handouts encouraged laziness. They used Addey’s funds to found the Addey School in 1821. This school stood on Church Street in Deptford. An expansion followed in 1862. A plaque in St Nicholas Church commemorates Addey’s generosity. It highlights the school’s role in aiding Deptford’s poor.
Now, let’s jump forward in time to the Stanhope School. Dean George Stanhope, vicar of Deptford and Lewisham, founded it in 1715. Stanhope was a friend of Jonathan Swift. Originally, the Stanhope School educated fifty deprived children. They learned practical skills like needlework and carpentry. The school was partly funded by sermon sales and donations. Subscribers could nominate a child to attend. Rules were strict. Children had to arrive clean and on time. Parents faced penalties for absences. The Stanhope School was also known as the Bluecoat School.
The Education Act of 1870 changed everything. Elementary education shifted to local authority control. The Stanhope School governors decided to close the school. They used the money to support children in other schools. By 1891, the Addey School governors felt their school was no longer essential. The two schools merged in 1894. This merger created the Addey and Stanhope School for Art and Science.
The current main building, a red-brick structure, was completed in 1899. Sir Alfred Brumwell Thomas designed it. A statue of a schoolgirl from the original Stanhope School stands in the entrance. A tablet commemorates John Addey, marking the tricentenary of his death.
Addey and Stanhope became a grammar school in 1944. It was one of the first co-educational secondary schools in England. Headmaster Mr Salter served for 28 years after the merger. Basil Alvin Howard, another headmaster, promoted co-education and foreign trips.
During World War II, the school was evacuated twice. First, it moved to Burwash Common in East Sussex. Then, it relocated to Garnant, South Wales. Tragedy struck in 1944. A V-2 rocket attack on New Cross Gate killed two Addey and Stanhope pupils. Two more pupils died in separate air raids.
In recent years, Addey and Stanhope School has expanded. New buildings and facilities have been added. A Design and Technology block opened in 1999. A new wing provided classrooms, a gym, and ICT rooms. The Duke of York opened this wing in 2003. Addey and Stanhope gained Technology College status in 2005.
Today, Addey and Stanhope School maintains a strong sense of community. It celebrates its diverse student body. The school is divided into four houses: Addey, Stanhope, Pepys, and Evelyn. Founders’ Day is an annual tradition. It brings together past and present members of the school community. The school prayer honors John Addey and George Stanhope. It recognizes the contributions of all who have supported the school.
So, as we stand before Addey and Stanhope School, remember its long and impactful history. From its humble beginnings to its present-day achievements, this school has shaped countless lives.